A FORMER Birmingham Labour councillor at the centre of a vote-rigging row plans a political comeback.

A FORMER Birmingham Labour councillor at the centre of a vote-rigging row plans a political comeback.

Muhammad Afzal, who was convicted and then cleared of postal vote fraud, is his party's candidate for the Aston ward at next year's city council elections.

Mr Afzal was one of six Labour councillors accused of masterminding widespread corruption at the 2004 elections.

An election court banned all six from standing as candidates again and ordered by-elections be held in Aston and Bordesley Green.

The Court of Appeal later cleared Mr Afzal of taking part in corrupt practices. He said he was not at a warehouse in Witton when police found Labour activists surrounded by hundreds of completed postal ballots.

A former cabinet member for human resources and equalities, Mr Afzal has 20 years' experience as a councillor.